Tweeters,

On a very warm day (83degF at noon there; 95+ at Roy at 4pm), three of us
went out to the Muck Creek Bridge to try for a Northern Bobwhite, but didn't
see one. (There could have been a single call by one, but not good enough
for confirmation.) We also heard a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT sounding off
occasionally while looking for the bobwhite, but never did see it. The
surprise bird at the bridge was a VESPER SPARROW, which was very close to
the bridge drinking from the creek. Great spotting by Wendy to stick with
looking for the bird after she initially saw something disappear into the
rushes along the bank.



LOTS of swallows (BARN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, TREE, CLIFF, and
VIOLET-GREEN) around the bridge area. This plethora of prey attracted a
juvenile COOPER'S HAWK, which snagged a swallow and was subsequently pursued
by dozens of live ones. Two male WESTERN BLUEBIRDS hovered over the water
and looked as if they were flycatching. One of them perched conveniently on
an electrical wire next to the bridge, offering a great view of this local
nester. Other birds seen or heard at the bridge: BEWICK'S WREN, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, DOWNY
WOODPECKER, RED-TAILED HAWK, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER,
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and AMERICAN ROBIN.



At Lewis Lake, we saw the adult OSPREYS, but couldn't get a good look at the
nest to see the young.



We hit the "trap" area along Story Road just past where it takes off from
the Second Division Range Road. There we saw or heard HOUSE WREN, NORTHERN
FLICKER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and several sparrows.
Further up the range road, we looked for American Kestrels, but didn't find
them; did hear an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER "pip-pipping."



Not a bad quick run-through of some areas, but the time of year and heat
likely kept things down.



One mammal spotted: LONG-TAILED WEASEL, also at the Muck Creek Bridge.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com